Being a Bantam is a Family Matter Among Four Men's Lacrosse First-Years

Four first-year Trinity College men’s lacrosse student-athletes, Carter Bradford ’26 (Rye, N.Y.), Rory McAloon  ’26 (Mountainside, N.J.), Jack Almeida ’26 (New Canaan, Conn.) and Will Kaplan ’26 (Radnor, Pa.) are all determined to make their mark on the team and leave a lasting legacy as a Bantam. Little did they know before coming to campus that they had something unique in common – their mothers also went to Trinity.  On Mother’s Day, a few have given us some insight on how each their mom’s played a unique role in the college selection process and their first year on campus.

Barford, a rookie defenseman who started two games this spring, had always dreamed of playing lacrosse on a collegiate level. His mother, Crista Demasi ’93, was delighted when her son committed to her alma mater. She had fond memories of her time at the College and was excited for her son to experience the same. Despite Crista’s love for Trinity, she never pressured Carter into attending college. Instead, Carter decided based on his interests and was happy to follow in his mother’s footsteps. Crista visits often and tries to attend all the home games.

As for McAloon, a midfielder who appeared in every game of his rookie season, his parents, Maureen and Jim McAloon, both attended Trinity and had remarkable experiences during their time wearing the Navy & Gold.  His mother graduated in 1986 and his father played football as a 1985 graduate. Growing up, Rory heard about his parents’ time at Trinity and their experiences, making his decision to attend the college easier.

However, McAloon initially did not commit to playing lacrosse at Trinity, despite the sport being a huge part of his life. In the spring,he decided to try out for the Bantams as a walk-on and Trinity Head Coach Jason Tarnow (5th Season) is glad that he did. While McAloon’s mother visits him occasionally and tries to attend his games, it can be difficult for his parents to split their time between his and his sister’s lacrosse games at Bowdoin College.

Almeida’s mother Melissa was a member of the 1992 class and she always shared stories about her time at on campus when he was growing up. Like the McAloon family, Melissa met her husband, John Almeida, at Trinity while he was visiting — although he did attend college here — and the two reminisced about their happiest moments on campus often with their son He shared that his mom’s connection with the school “definitely affected his college decision and helped him with the committing process.” His mom was thrilled with his choice to attend her alma mater. He had a fantastic first collegiate season with 20 goals and four assists for the Bantams.

Coach Tarnow and the Trinity men’s lacrosse program enjoyed a stellar 2023 season, developing steadily over the course of the spring while numerous young players like these four came along and qualifying for the NESCAC Championship Tournament.  The Bantams are not only excited about their promising young talent but also that these these players are continuing a Trinity family legacy. While each player has their own reasons for attending Trinity, their mothers’ positive experiences have undoubtedly played a role in their decisions. With such a strong sense of connection and determination, it’ll be exciting to see how these first-year players contribute to the team’s success in the years to come.